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Our All Star Faculty
Rysa began studying dance over 35 years ago in Southern California. Her passion for the art of dance and music pushed her to experience many different styles from Ballet, Jazz, and Hip Hop to Salsa, Belly-dancing, and African. Her formal training continued throughout college, where she earned her bachelors degree in Interdisciplinary Studies/Early Childhood with a minor in Dance at Texas A&M University. She has choreographed and performed various projects for TV, stage, and screen. She has taught for over 20 years throughout the U.S. and was Artistic director of Just East of Broadway Performing Arts Studio from 2004-2008. Since 2008, Rysa has been the proud Owner/Director of All Star Studios in Forest Hills, Queens.
Shauna earned her BFA in Dance Performance from The State University of New York at Buffalo. She is currently a member of In-Sight Dance Company under the direction of Leeanne M. G-Bowley and a past member of LiNK The Movement under the direction of Ginger Cox. With LiNK and In-Sight she has had the opportunity to perform at: The National Museum of Dance, LIC Arts Open, The Moving Beauty Series, New York 60x60 Dance, Elian Summer Dance Awards, Jazz Dance Choreography Enterprises, and Harkness Dance Center’s, “Fridays at Noon”.
Shauna Sorensen and Dancers first premiered in 2010 at The Ailey City Group Theater in New York City. Shauna Sorensen and Dancers also completed their 2nd evening length site specific/multi media work, “Master Sigh”, with funding from the Queens Council on The Arts. The company has presented works at The Queens Fringe Festival, Translate: The Voices of Dance/JChen Project, The Under Exposed series, The Quarterly Arts Soiree at Webster Hall, Dixon Place Presents Fast Forward, FUSE and Immersion presented by the Creators Collective, In-Sight Dance Company’s “Suite Summer”, The Rebound Dance Festival in New Haven, CT., and The DUMBO Dance Festival. Shauna’s full bio and additional videos can be viewed by visiting www.shaunasorensen.com.
Victoria began dancing at a young age in Wilmington, NC under the direction of Mary Beth Henderson at South East Dance Theater. She studied ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, acrobatics and pointe, competing at a national level and performing with The Dance Theatre of Wilmington’s Nutcracker Ballet every year. Victoria then moved on to finish High School at the prestigious North Carolina School of the Arts where she focused her training on ballet and contemporary. She received her BFA in Dance performance with a jazz concentration and minor in Theater from East Carolina University. Since moving to New York City, she has had the opportunity to work with choreographers for performances at Ailey CitiGroup Theater, Kean University, Webster Hall, Silk City Arts Festival, Hatch and onboard The Palm Beach Princess. Most recently, she is excited to be presenting the choreography of Liz Matias of Matias Dance and Shauna Sorensen at multiple performance venues throughout the Tri-State area. Victoria began teaching at All Star Studios in 2008.
Olivia was born and raised in Michigan where she began dancing at 4 years old under the direction of Joanne Zavisa. She trained in a wide variety of styles and techniques, competing at a regional and national level for 10+ years. She continued her dance education at the University at Buffalo, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. While at UB, Olivia performed as a member of the Zodiaque Dance Company in addition to directing and choreographing for multiple showcases. Olivia has furthered her training with various organizations including the Joffrey Ballet School, The Cecchetti Council of America, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and the Dance Masters of America Student Honors Intensive Program and Teachers Training School.
Olivia recently moved to New York City and is currently performing as a member of the Mo.vement Dance Company. She is passionate about working with young dancers and feels incredible lucky to have had experiences teaching and choreographing for students at multiple studios and conventions. When Olivia is not dancing she enjoys teaching fitness classes as a certified Pure Barre Instructor. Olivia is so grateful and excited to join the All Star Studios family!
Kelly was born and raised in Westford, Massachusetts, where her dance training began at the age of 2 1/2 in local dance studios. Kelly participated in many performance opportunities along the East Coast, including multiple Nutcrackers with New England Civic Ballet, community charity performances, and dance competitions. Kelly graduated with her BA in Dance, and a minor in Psychology, from Dean College. While at Dean, Kelly studied Ballet, jazz, modern, hip hop and tap, and took advantage of many performance and choreography opportunities. Kelly moved to New York in 2008 to pursue a career in dance, Where her performance credits include a showcase of Alan O'nickel's choreography at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, And many performances and choreographic opportunities as a member of The NYC Tap Companies, Undertoe Dance Project, and Ya'el Tap. Kelly continues her dance training by taking classes at Steps on Broadway.
Emily began dancing at the age of 3 in South Bend, IN. Through high school she studied ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, and pointe, with opportunities to perform locally and in dance competitions. She received a BA in Dance Performance and Choreography along with a minor in Classical Studies from Hope College. While at Hope College, Emily performed as a part of H2 Pre Professional Dance Company, and began to work as a dance teacher as well as working backstage on theater productions. Since moving to New York, she has had the opportunity to choreograph musical theater productions for Star 2 B Performing Arts School. Emily is currently a member of Thistle Dance both as a dancer and administrative staff. She is very excited to be teaching at All Star Studios!
Erin began her formal dance training at the Academy of Dance Arts in her hometown of Red Bank, NJ under the direction of Jennifer Church. She continued her studies at Studio Maestro (currently Manhattan Youth Ballet) in New York City with Deborah Wingert and François Perron. In addition, Erin participated in training programs at The Rock School of Pennsylvania Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School, American Ballet Theatre, as well as several summers in Washington D.C. studying with Suzanne Farrell at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. Professionally, Erin has worked with New Chamber Ballet, Connecticut Ballet, Staten Island Ballet, Rebecca Kelly Ballet, Neglia Ballet Artists, TranscenDance Group, Accent Dance NYC, Ballets with a Twist, and Cherylyn Lavagnino Dance. Erin Gallagher is a graduate of Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts at The New School.
